Cliff Smith
Blue Highways Stage
11:00
I picked up my first guitar while at university back in the late '60s. I've been in love with
guitars ever since and I like most any kind of music for the guitar. I've dabbled with folk, flamenco, classical, acoustic, and even rock & metal – I like it all. Lately, I've been playing an eclectic collection of jazz standards, 'singer/songwriter' stuff, classical, and oldish acoustic blues.
Some of my major influences are Leo Kottke, David Bromberg, Martin Simpson, Eric
Johnson, Joe Satrianni, and Andre Segovia. I also love to build guitars and have made a
handful of classical and some electrics – there is something way cool about playing your
own guitars. My present guitar direction is learning a few of the more esoteric tunings as
well as increasing my knowledge of chordal melody.
Steve Schad
Auditorium Stage
11:00
Steve Schad is and exceptionally accomplished guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with a catchy and compelling style that ranges form delicate to thunderous. With his crisp command of the acoustic guitar and his engaging pop sensibility, Steve’s vibrant and imaginative musicality is winning fans everywhere.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Steve spent his youth in rock bands playing the bar and beer tent circuit, learning to interact with audiences and gradually becoming a seasoned performer. Launching his solo career at the dawn of the 21st century, Steve has logged countless miles on tour, recorded 7 CD’s, and generated a medial profile featuring positive reviews across the Midwest.
Kathy Fry & Jon Coleman
Blue Highways Stage
12:00
Frogwater
Auditorium Stage
12:00
Frogwater is the acoustic musical pairing of John & Susan Nicholson. Renowned for their musical virtuosity and exuberant live performances, they call themselves musical ambassadors, and describe their style as "eclectic acoustic peoples' music". Their repertoire spans ranges from Celtic to Blues, Classical to Pop with a healthy dose of unique, original material filling out the mix. Their innovative interpretations of traditional tunes span the centuries and the miles and defy categorization.
Mike and Lori Schmidt
Blue Highways Stage
1:00
Dan Sebranek & Mary Cortesi
Auditorium Stage
1:00
Dan Sebranek is a singer-songwriter and acoustic musician who is a local favorite in Wisconsin. He continues to play solo acoustic guitar and sing songs that we all enjoy. Dan plays in the bluegrass band String Ties and he accompanies several musical duos, which include John Smith and Hans Mayer. he an be found in concert at local venues in the Midwest or in Sarasota, Florida during the month of March. Dan will take his music across the ocean on his second tour of Ireland in June 2010. His musical style blends acoustic folk with jazz, popular contemporary music, country western, bluegrass and swing. You might hear a bit of Dan Fogelberg, Tony Bennett and Jimmy Buffet all in one concert. Occasionally Dan invites guests to accompany his performance. Mary Cortesi is a member of the La Crosse Songwriters Group and she will join Dan at this performance.
Kettle Creek String Band
Blue Highways Stage
2:00
Kettle Creek String Band is a group of friends and neighbors from the Crawford County area. Members include Paul Bransky, Jane Keeley, Kevin Dohse, Hans Verick and Tim Jenkins. Some have been playing together for over twenty years, playing for the fun and the loveof old-time music. They bring their fiddles, banjos, guitars and mandolins and play mountain music, transforming our Ocooch Mountains to Little Appalachia. Along with playing for many dances in the area, Kettle Creek String Band has hosted theGays Mills Second Saturday square dance for over twenty years. Many afoot has danced and many a toe has tapped time to their lively music.
Round the Bend
Auditorium Stage
2:00
Based in Madison, Wisconsin since 2000, Round the Bend blends Bluegrass, Old-Timey, and Western Swing in captivating versions of traditional songs that evoke nostalgia, love lost and found, and barn-dancing fun. Spirited vocals, tight harmonies, inventive instrumentals and down-home humor have delighted audiences of all ages at parties, festivals, community concerts, weddings, and senior centers. Tailoring selection of tunes to hosts' requests, the band offers concert-style shows or low-profile background music. Round the Bend loves to have a good time with audiences.
Stillhouse
Blue Highways Stage
3:00
Stillhouse descends from the acoustic driven traditions of CSN, Jackson Browne, and progressive bluegrass and blues music. Tim Houlihan of Minneapolis, Tom Riley of Dubuque and David Dati of Richland County Wisconsin have been collaborating together for 30 years. In 2003 they released their Cd of original music , "Lives On The Same Arc." David and Tom will perform their original music, blues and fiddle tunes, and covers from artist such as Jackson Browne, and Neil Young when they perform May 1st in Richland Center.
Acoustic Remedy
Auditorium Stage
3:00
Lee Mancuso and Frank Nelsen formed this musical duo to perform well-chosen songs from all genres in an acoustic format. Strong delivery and close harmonies are the foundation of this group. Songwriting talents, witty stage presence, and diverse instrumentation make this band very entertaining. Guest musicians Jeremy Goodman and Robyn Tiller augment the acoustic arrangements adding new dimensions to the sound palette. It all adds up to serious fun.
Don’t miss this must see act who truly enjoy making music together and playing for you.
Lee Mancuso: Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin
Frank Nelsen: Vocals, Guidtar, Bass, Dobro
Jeremy Goodman: Violin, Mandolin
Robyn Tiller: Flute
For bookings or schedule info call Frank 920-428-4424 or Lee 608-434-1355
Jane Keely & Kevin Dohse
Blue Highways Stage
4:00
Jane and Kevin- Jane Keeley and Kevin Dohse have both had long and interesting musical journeys and have playedtogether in several of the same bands. But five years ago, they started a journey together as a duo, sharing a love of American roots music. With Kevin on mandolin and Jane on guitar, they sing traditional songs and songs and songs from such greats as the Carter family, Doc Watson, Hank Williams and others. They bring to the music their own style, a melodious mandolin and sweet harmonies. Enjoy the journey.
The Dang-Its
Auditorium Stage
4:00
The Dang-Its play Honky Tonk, Western Swing, and Americana music. That last category encompasses styles as diverse as Cajun, Bluegrass, Folk, Country Blues and more. Now entering their 12th year, The Dang-Its have received multiple honors in Madison’s Isthmus Reader’s Choice Polls and Madison Magazine’s “Favorites.” They have a long résumé of community concerts and festivals and an active presence in Performing Arts Centers in Wisconsin and the Midwest.
The Dang-Its’ approach is roots oriented, emphasizing tight arrangements with clear, soaring vocal harmonies. The band shifts effortlessly from spare and gritty alt-country stories, to jazzy, western swing jump tunes, to whisper-quiet ballads—a stylistic and dynamic sweep that one Madison writer/musician simply described as “Atmospheric.” Their repertoire is definitely off the beaten track and features songs that span a wide range, from the quirky and humorous to powerful portraits of love and loss. Add a few classics and standards along with expertly crafted original music, and The Dang-Its offer a mix that will connect with any audience.
Current information is always available at www.dang-its.com. If you visit, please follow the Press and Booking link to the Electronic Press Kit (EPK), which has useful information, including downloadable photos, poster, concert résumé and more.
Handful of Earth
Blue Highways Stage
5:00
The Roddys
Auditorium Stage
5:00
The Roddys are a multi-instrumental, acoustic, singing duo that live in the rolling countryside of rural Viola, WI. Their sound is steeped in American roots and traditional music updated with touches of blues and jazz but, their original music defies categorization. Their songs will take you on road trips south, into dim lit bars, to memories of loves and lives lost and found. Banjo, guitar, upright bass, mandolin, slide guitar and unique harmonies provide the backbone for their ambitious songwriting intended to take the listener on a toe-tapping trip to places less visited.
Don Greenwood
Blue Highways Stage
6:00
With a mix of acoustic Folk and Blues this Veteran and refugee from the Chicago folk scene of the 1960’s combines his own style with that of Dylan, Prine, Van Ronk and his many originals.
The Getaway Drivers
Auditorium Stage
6:00
The Getaway Drivers radiate edgy, melodious, alt-country energy from the infamously progressive heartland outpost of Madison, Wisconsin. Let by songwriters Bob Manor and Sheila Shigley, the Getaway Drivers combine gritty western blues and sweet-tea country nostalgia with silky, dark acoustic guitar framework and the pairing of cracked-leather and mercury smooth vocal harmonies. Their acoustic sets feature touches of mandolin and fiddle and the full band will delight listeners with bluesy electric guitar, organ and a relentlessly solid rhythm section. The Getaway Drivers' songs are eclectic, wrought with storytelling imagery and spooky-sweet melodies that extend far beyond the heartland sound.
Colin O’Brien
Blue Highways Stage
7:00
There are two distinct sides to Colin’s musical coin. On one side there’s a heart, and the other, soul. In a single performance Colin dances dazzling foot percussion while playing his heart out on fiddle and banjo... Then, taking a seat, he plays some of the most beautiful, soulful guitar music this side of mars. It’s as though someone introduced John Hartford to John Fahey.
Colin’s musicality began taking shape in the fourth grade when he failed the co-ordination test in his snare drum audition for the school band. The wise instructor Jack Horner decided to give Colin sticks nevertheless…This unleashed Colin’s rise to become a full blown high-school rock star, in his school, anyway. Always questing and rarely resting, Colin’s interest turned to the guitar.
So, O’Brien left his native Michigan for Seattle, Washington where he studied Classical guitar at Cornish College of the Arts. After just one year of study (intense study!) he was awarded 2nd place in the prestigious Seattle Classic Guitar Society competition. To the possible chagrin of the awards committee, Colin spent his award certificate on a huge pile of American Finger-style Guitar books and recordings. Colin then moved to Milwaukee in 1993 to study guitar at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. He’s on the faculty there now teaching Banjo, Guitar and Fiddle, has been since 2000.
In 1997 O’Brien released his debut recording Pressure in the West co-produced by Willy Porter. It received great reviews from both the local press and international publications such as Billboard Magazine and was featured on NPR’s World Cafe. Right about 1999 O’Brien was bitten by the “Banjo Bug” and proceeded, (with characteristic intensity) to delve into Bluegrass and Celtic styles of Banjo playing. This led Colin to form Salt Creek, an extraordinary ensemble featuring some of Wisconsin's’ finest musicians. Salt Creek was honored as “Best Bluegrass Band” in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) in 2004, ’05 and ’06. Currently Colin performs his solo show throughout the U.S.A. He has just released “Dancing by the River” which captures his enormous instrumental range and songwriting in full swing. He’s currently recording and all instrumental guitar record, Inside These Guitars, to be released May 30th. Colin has published two banjo instructional books for Hal Leonard. His Banjo instructional DVD will be available everywhere in spring 2010. Colin O’Brien wants to play for YOU!
www.colingobrien.com 414 372 8523 colingobrien@isp.com
Viroqua Praise and Sing
Auditorium Stage
7:00
The Viroqua Praise and Sing Team is made up of many groups and individual singers. The following are a selection that will be joining the festivities on May 1st.
The Discourds are a gospel country and Bluegrass group from the Viroqua area. They have been together several years and travel a large area giving concerts.
JAR Trio three ladies from the Viola area, they are no strangers to the area. They have been singing together and giving gospel concerts for over 25 years.
4--2 Osity is a men’s barber shop style quartet from the Viroqua area with excellent harmony and good entertainers.
Steeple is a country gospel group consisting of instruments and singers. They are from the viola, La Farge and Westby area.
The Messengers are a southern gospel style quartet from the Soldiers Grove area.
Some of the soloists that will be performing include:
Judy Anderson, Sandy Skarda, Wayne Goplin, Tom Baker, and Dennis Johnson. All of these musicians have several years experience giving gospels concerts.
Lost Conversation
Blue Highways Stage
8:00
Choral Group
Auditorium Stage
8:00
Einstein’s Gypsy Rebels
Blue Highways Stage
9:00
Einstein's Gypsy Rebels (Digital concept technological / Computer) band is composed of Terry Arbegust and Dale Rasmussen. We met back in the middle 1980's and have been playing together, writing orignals and playing progressive Classic rock, ever since.
Terry Arbegust: Guitar Player, singer - songwriter, computer effects multimedia producer, videos effects etc.
Dale Rasmussen: Harmony Gardens Productions Studio owner, keyboard player, keyboard bass player, songwriter, midi-computer Drummer, operator programmer. Dale's program of preference is: SONAR.
For those who are interested we do have an original audio CD titled: Karmic Compost.
Hidden Valley Church Band
Auditorium Stage
9:00
This team consists of many talented musicians, ranging in all ages, who utilize their talents to bring glory to God. This is not your typical rural SW WI team. The team consists of Singers, Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, and Electric Drums. If you like upbeat, encouraging music that is inspiring, this group is one you must hear. Hidden Valley is a church that just over 2 ½ years ago started with 35 people and now have over 200 attending regularly here in the auditorium. The growth is due in part to relevant messages, caring people, and the tremendous music provided on Sunday mornings. If you listen to 102.5 out of Madison or 95.3 here in Richland Center, you may or will recognize many of the songs.
Chickenhead
Blue Highways Stage
10:00
The Chickenhead R & B band puts an emphasis on Funky progressive Blues, maybe even a little jazz and Latin. Chickenhead has been flapping, flying and stirring up Blues dust since the 1990's. Chickenheads just wanna crow, scratch and kick up dirt, Blues dirt that is. These Chicken's is funk-de-fried as it were, better catch 'em before they go to roost, cock-a-doodle-do to the Blue.
Chickenhead is a local Southern Wisconsin band that plays R & B music with emphasis on Da-Blues.
The band members are:
Arbegust Terry: Lead Guitar player, singer songwriter. [Time Traveler from the Multiverse WI.]
Fauver Tim: Bass player, singer. [Sextonville, WI.]
Plotkin Gil: Lead Guitar player, singer. [Milwaukee]
Transo Jens Peter: Drummer, percussion. [Boscobel, WI]
Woppert Dick: Lead Singer, percussion, artiste in general ;-) [Blue River, WI]
(Non-attending member would be Steve Mankee, bass player song-writer now residing in New Mexico, If I recall correctly it was Steve who came up with the name Chickenhead and or it was a collaboration between Steve and Dick the lead singer Chicken as it were.)
Gary Zick & Allan Abarca
Auditorium Stage
10:00
Gary Zick
Has played harmonica for 46 years and has played professionally with numerous groups in Wisconsin and most Southern states. For 25 years he recorded, performed, and toured professionally in the South with many different groups. This time included playing with numerous well-known players and sidemen that worked in major label groups and touring bands.
Tim Fauver
Tim has been playing bass for 16 years with many regional cover bands. He also performs in local music pits, and is the bassist for the Solstice Jazz Band. He has a music degree from UW-Platteville where he also learned upright bass performance in jazz and classical styles.
Lauren Los
Lauren has been playing the drums for nine years, and played for 5 years at the Mt. Pisgah church in Ontario, WI. Currently she plays drums at RCF in Richland Center, WI. She also is a student at UW-Richland where she plans to major in Psychology and will treat autism after completing her education.
Allan Abarca
Allan was born in Nicaragua and later moved to Costa Rica where he served at the local church. He was surrounded by many talented and dynamic musicians that were key to developing his unique worship style. At age 18 Allan began the process of learning drums, guitar, bass, and piano to enhance his ability to lead a worship team. He is also a fluent speaker of English and Spanish and enjoys playing music of all styles.